An Education: The Style Student Shows Us Her Favorite East Village Haunts

Stylish upstart Nicole Loher clearly came to New York to conquer. In two years, the FIT undergrad has gone from fashion student to insider, landing cherry jobs at Oscar de la Renta, Nanette Lepore, and Lucky Magazine, all while chronicling the adventures at her mega-addictive blog The Style Student. Oh, and did we mention Loher’s only 19? Our resumes should be so full.

Clad in her signature coed-chic slouchy knits and miniskirts, plus some choice picks from Timberland’s fall line, Loher takes us on a concrete-paved journey to her getaway spots in her fave neighborhood, the East Village. Read on for her local boutique of choice, her under-the-radar favorite salon, and where she goes to recharge with a little caffeine before heading off to tackle the books and blog again.

Mud Coffee, 307 East 9th Street (between 2nd and 1st avenues); 212-529-8766.
"I discovered MUD through a close friend, who frequented the Astor Place Mud Truck when he was at NYU. I love it for its atmosphere. It’s one of those places that’s really accepting of everyone, which is rare in the city. See, Monday through Wednesday, I wake up at 7 a.m., work out for an hour, then I'm in school from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., after which, I head home and do homework (I’m taking 21 credits, so it’s a pretty heavy schedule). Thursday and Friday, I'm at Nanette Lepore creating content and managing its social media. Basically, I need laid-back places like this and chic shoes that can keep up with me — like these brown Timberland Apley Talls (I also love that they have extended calf space!)."

Veselka, 144 2nd Avenue (between East 9th Street and St. Mark's Place); 212-228-9682
"I live between Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen, but I actually don’t like it all that much — it’s usually filled with tourists. I spend most of my time here in the East Village, Lower East Side, or SoHo. They all feel so incredibly lived in. Does that make sense? Also, the food around here — like Veselka — is amazing. I wouldn’t be upset if I wound up in the East Village for good."

Photographed by Sara Haile

Cloak & Dagger, 441 East 9th Street (between 1st Street and Avenue A); 212-673-0500.
"The East Village is the first neighborhood I really came to know when I moved to the city. The people here are so crazy; I never feel out of place. Plus, it's filled with all these little streets, each with something to discover. Cloak & Dagger was one of my prouder, more personal finds. I was walking around one day in the neighborhood after getting a pedicure with my aunt, and was drawn in by how cute the storefront was. From that point, I’ve been a frequent customer and they remain a favorite because it's edited beautifully and really sells a full lifestyle. Not many stores I go into have that effect. Some of the pieces I'm wearing are from there, which I paired with these Timberland Bethel Buckle Tall Zip Boots. I love that they're sleek and stylish, minus the pain of heels."

Butter Lane Cupcakes, 123 East 7th Street (between 1st Avenue and Avenue A); 212-677-2880
"There's just so much down here. When I stumble upon the farmers' market at Tompkins Square Park in the summer or fall, it’s a nice treat. There's also Slate Salon on 7th — I had the best haircut of my life there (and trust me, I’ve had a lot of haircuts). Of course, I'd never end a day in the East Village without hitting Butter Lane for a little shot of sugar — it's the best!"